Most people can agree that health, happiness, and productivity at work are related concepts.  Companies have a unique opportunity to foster all three, with a workplace wellbeing program.  During the last decade, workplace wellbeing programs have become commonplace, but what makes a program successful?

When trying to figure out the “special sauce” that makes a corporate wellbeing program successful, many can agree that leadership buy-in is one of the most important components. How can you do this? You must communicate the potential value of a wellbeing program to the leadership team.  Of course they will want to understand the value (i.e., financial) of a wellbeing promotion to the organization, but equally as compelling are the intangible benefits, such as improving employee morale and loyalty and increasing retention. Employees feel appreciated and valued when their health and wellbeing are supported by their employer.

For employers out there that would like to support the health of their employees, but think it’s too expensive to do so, we have some ideas for you.

Free and effective wellbeing strategies:

• Install bike racks at your office site – Through a partnership between the City of Buffalo and GOBike, bicycle racks are installed free of charge along commercial districts throughout Buffalo. All you have to do is fill out a simple form that is sent to the city.  For more information, visit: https://gobikebuffalo.org/services/.
  A similar program is also available through the City of Rochester.  Information can be found here: http://www.cityofrochester.gov/article.aspx?id=8589961840
• Sign your organization up for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) or “farm share” – Shares of produce are offered to the public in exchange for a flat fee as a cost-effective way to access fresh and local produce. Some farms are even willing to directly deliver the produce to your organization.  For more information, visit: http://www.localharvest.org/csa/
• Take steps to make sure your organization prioritizes the mental health – an employee’s mental health includes their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, as well as their emotional and social well-being. Additionally, an employee’s mental wellbeing is dynamic, meaning it is influenced by factors such as their workload, stress, and work-life balance. As such, Employers must consider various strategies that are intended to support employee mental health as part of their overall wellbeing program.  Learn more here: https://walshduffield.com/mental-health-in-the-workplace/

And for those readers who work from home, don’t worry, you’re not left out of the wellness chatter!  Regardless of your specific business, the nature of our jobs share many similarities.  One such similarity is a sedentary culture and sitting is taking a huge toll on our health.  Researchers continue to find evidence that prolonged sitting increases the risk of developing cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.  What’s equally as frightening is the fact that long-term sitting is not reversible through exercise.  The solution?  Incorporate standing, pacing and other forms of activity into your normal day—and standing at your desk for part of it is the easiest way of doing so.  You can make your own standing workstation at minimal cost and could be one of the easiest and healthiest changes you make during your workday.

Surprisingly enough, you don’t need a robust wellbeing budget in order to install a wellbeing program that’s efficient, smart and goal-oriented.  It takes time to break old habits and develop new ones and companies cannot approach wellness as a quick-fix solution.

Interested in establishing a more robust wellbeing program for your office?  Learn more about our wellness philosophy:

For more information, visit the wellbeing section of our website or contact our Team of Corporate Wellbeing Consultants today!